Discussing a DUI can be embarrassing and painful. If convicted of a DUI, you might feel tired of explaining what happened to your friends and family. However, the question of whether to talk to your boss about your DUI is an important one that you should consider carefully. Although you might not want to talk about the DUI, depending on your job and your contract, you might have to inform your employer of your DUI. This page will help you determine if you have to tell your boss about your DUI, and if you don’t have to, if it is in your best interest to tell them about it anyway.

Telling Your Employer

In most cases, you will not have to tell your boss that you have received a DUI. However, each job and job contract is different, so think back to your contract. For instance, if you are a pilot, you will definitely have to inform your employer of your DUI because this is in your contract. If you are performing another job where in your contract it states that you have to inform your boss of any crimes or arrests, you will have to do so. Not telling your employer about your DUI can result in employment sanctions or even the termination of your job. In order to avoid these consequences, be sure to alert your boss to your DUI as soon as it happens.

Employment Contract

If your contract does not say that you have to tell your boss about your DUI, you are under no obligation to tell your boss about your DUI. However, if your boss asks you about your criminal history or if they specifically ask you if you have recently gotten a DUI, it might be in your best interest to tell the truth. Lying to your boss will seem irresponsible and could affect your job security. It is best to be open about the mistakes that you have made and seek to prove that you are still a good employee.

Your decision to tell your employer about your DUI conviction will depend on both your job and what your job contract looks like. In some cases, for instance if you are a teacher, a truck driver with a commercial license, or a pilot, you will have to inform your employer of your DUI conviction. However, if your job contract does not say that you have to inform your boss of your conviction, you don’t have to. Regardless, it still might be a good idea to tell your boss about the DUI. You will have to determine if for your individual case it is the best idea for you to tell your boss about your DUI. If you are unsure as to your best course of action, contact an attorney for additional help.